Cultivator.



PATENTED AUG. 25, 1908` G. W. MICHAEL.

GULTIVATOR.

APPLIOATION I'ILnn rBB.1,1908.

PATENTED AUG. 25, 1908.

GW. MICHAEL.

GULTIVATOR.

APPLIOATION HLBD PB.1,1908.

3 SEBETS-SHET 2.

PATENTED AUG. 25, 1908.

G. W. MICHAEL. GULTIVATOR.

APPLICATION 'ILED I'EB. 1,1908.

3 SHEETS-SHET 3.

NITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE CLEMENT W. MICHAEL, OF'RACINE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO J. I. CASE POW WORKS, OF

RACINEVISOONSI N, A CORPORATION. I

'and seeks to provide a simple form of yieldsite sides of the row of pl'ants, together with `vention consists in the features ofconstrucoUL'rIvAToR.

Specification of Letters 'atent.

Patented Aug. 25, 1908.

Original application filed July 7, 1906, Serial No. 320,7506. Divided and this application filed February 1, 1908.

serial No.

To all whom 'itmay conce'm:

Be it known that I, CLEMENT W. MICHAEL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Racine, county of Racine, and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful |Im rovements in Cultivators, for which the ollowing is a specification The present invention isa 'di'Vision of a prior application filed by me on July 7, 1906 or improvements in cultivators,V Serial No.. 320,506. i w The im 'rovement relates to riding of wheeled cu tivators of the straddle-row type ing connection between the. gangs or shovel beams which cultivate the ground on op omeans for adjusting the' yielding connection to hold the gangs or shovel beams at any desired distance apart, and with suitable foot levers or Shifters for guiding and separating the gangs or swinging shovel beams. The intion, combinations and arrangcments of parts hereinafterset forth, illustrated in the aecompanying drawings and morel particularly pointed out inthe appended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved cultivator, F ig. 2 is a' longitudinal section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail section on lines' 3-3 of Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is a detail section on line 4 4 of Fig.,.2. Fig. 5 is a detail section on line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Figs. 6 and 7 are detail Views of the coupling for the 'shovel beams.

The cultivator is of the straddle-row type and the supporting Wheels 10 are journaled upon s indles at the ends of an arched aXle 11. T ie wheel Sections are swiveled and adjustably secured in the ends of a tubular member or pipe 11a secured by brackets 12 to the `side-b'ars 13 of the frame. Adjacent their forward ends, the side-bars 13 are 'secured to the upper portion of an arch bar 14 that is centrally connected by'a bolt 15 to the tongue 16. From the arch bar 14 the side-bars extend forwardly and are secured by bolts 17 to the sides of the tongue v16. A pair of braekets 18 (see Figs. 1 and 4) are mounted above the ends of the upper horizontal portion of the arched axle 11 and are secured to upright flanges on the brackets 12 by bolts 19. 'Brace-bars 20 are secured at their rear ends to the brackets 18 and eXt-end forwardly and downwardly therefrom to the horizontal spindles on the lower portionof the arch bar 14. Brace-rods 22 are connected at their 'rear ends to the lower ends of the arched axle 11 and at their forward ends are each'arranged to adjustably engage one of a series of holes 23 'in the adjacent brace-bar 20. By adjusting thev brace rods 22, the depending portions of the arched axle may be swung back and forth and set in proper position to balance the machine with riders of different weight. Brace-rods 24 (see Figs. 1 and 2) are connected at their rear ends to the spindles of the arch bar 14 and these bracerods extend upwardly and forwardly and are connected by one 'of the bolts 17 to the pole 16. A draft evener 25 is pivotally connected to the rear end of the pole 16 and links 26 swiveled to and depending from the ends of 'thedraft evener 25 are connected at their lower ends by links 27 to arms 21a that are fixed to and depend from sleeves 21 swiveled on the spindles of the arch bar 14. The links 26 are each provided with a series of holes 28 which afford suitable means for connecting the swingle-trees to the cultivator.

A riderls seat 29 is mounted upon the rear ends of a pair of horizontal bars 30 which eXtend forwardly and diverge outwardly therefronr Sup}'orting loops 31 secured to the seatbars 30, extend around the upper horizontal portion 11a of the arched axle and the forward ends of the seat bars 30 are connected to the brace bars 32 which are secured to the side-bars 13 of the frame and to brackets 33 extending upwardly from the side-bars.

The gangs or shovel beams and the ground tools carried thereby may be of any usual or suitabh` ('(mstruetion, hut preferably each of the shovel beams is formed of separate seetions 34 that are bolted together in offset relation to carry the shovels 35 on the shanks 36 in proper position. At their forward end, the sections 34 of the shovel beams are secured to upright standards 37 that are swiveled in the braekets or ('ouplnrs 38 so that the gangs or shovel beams may be svxung laterally. Coupling members 38 are adjnstably secured to the sleeves 21 on the spindles of the bar 14 so that the g'ang's or shovel beams may bc arranged at different distanees apart. The ('onpling members are also swiveled upon the horizontal spindle 21 therefrom.

so that the gangs or shovel beams may be shifted vertically to and from working position. i

A raisinghand lowering shifter is provided for each of the gangs or vshovel beams and comprises a toothed segment 39 pivoted to the upright bracket 33 and extending rearwardly An operating hand-lever 40 is connected by a pivot bolt 41 to the toothed segment and extends rearwardly within reach of the operator. A bolt 42 onA the hand-lever 40'extends through a slot 43 in the rear end of the segment 39 so that, the hand-lever is connected to the segment by a pin-and-slot or lost motion connection. A depth'regulatshifter or lever 44 is pivotally connected by the bolt 41 to the segment 39 and is provlded with a do 45 arranged to engage one of the notches o the segment depth-regulating 'lever 44 may be adjust'ably locked in position upon the segment. The dog 45 is o erated by the usual trip or handle 46 lpivote to the lever 44. The depth-regulating lever is connected to the corresponding gang or shovel beam preferably by means of a rod or link 47 connected tol the'lever'and to the upper nected to the adjacent side-bar 13 by a pivot bolt 49 and that extends upwardly from the side-ban The rock arm`48'is connected to the adjacent gangl or shoveljbeaml by a link 50 that extends downwardly.` throuh an' opening in a sleeve 51 that is mounte upon a cross-bolt' 52 between the sectionsf'34fof the' shovel beam (see Fig. v5). The slceve' 51 'is provided with projecting lu s 53. extending* eneath the section 34 of, t e shovel beam and anut 54 threaded onjthe lowerv end of the link engages the-lower face of the sleeve 51. This one-way. connection between the rod or link 50 and the shovel beam allows the latter to rise and fall as it passes over irregularities in the ground while at the same time, the raising and lowering lever' 40 and the depth-regulating lever 44 may be em loyed Ato raise and lower the gang or shove beam. through the medium of the link or rod 47 ,I

4rock arm 48 and the link or rod 50.

In the lowered position of' the gang' or shovel beam, the segment- 39 rests iipon a stop-bolt -55 that is surrounded by a cu'shion spring 56. The segment is held in this position by a latch 57 (see Figs. 2 and 4) thatis pivoted'v thereto and which is arranged to .engage a flange on the bracket 18. This latch is provided at its upper end with a laterally-projecting lug 58 which extends through the slot 43 in the segment and engages the upper edge of the lever 40.

In raising the gang or shovel beam the hand-lever 40 is moved upwardly and forwardly by the operator. l`he initialV movernent of the hand-lever takes up the lost mo- I vtion between it and the segment 39 and ,also

serves, by the engagement of the hand-lever 39 so that the w end of a rock arm 48.-that is conwith thelug 58 to trip the latch 57. The further movement of the. 'hand lever willl then turn to shift the segment and raise the gan or shovel .beam through the medium of the dink 01' rod 47, rock arm 48 and connectjusted as desired to change' the working depth of the gang without disturbing' the raising or lowering lever 40 or' the segment 39. Moreover, the shift of the lever 40 does not disturb-the adjustment of the lever 44 so that the gangs may be quickly raised by the lever 40 and quickly returned to the same working position.

The improved raisi-ng 'and lowering mechanism described is fullysetforth and claimed in the prior application referred to and forms Ino'I artofthe present inventio'n.

ach of the gangs'or' shovel'lbeam's is .vided with means whereby it.may be swung orguided laterally bythe operator in working over the ground.V .f-Forwth'is purpose, the bracket 13 is provided at itsV outer end with a Vertical sleeve 59'` (see Figs. 1,. 2 and 4)l throu h which extends .the upper end of a` rock-s aft 60. The shaft 60is held in placeI Within the sleeve 59-1 by a pin 61 4extendixfig through its upper end. At its lower end t e shaft 60 is provided With 'a' forwardly-extending -crank ip'ortion 62, the Vertical depending end ofwhich crankv extends through an eye in tixei'outer end of a link 63. This -link extendsl adjacent'` shovelibeam, and its inner downturned Aendengagesavertical'openin 'in a bracket 6'4Ltha`tissecured'to 'the inner a'ce of `the shovelbeam' by a' bolt 65 and by the bolt 52.- Arms 66 are fixedto the lower portions ofthe shafts' 60 adjacent the-.cranks'62 there-- of and 'eachfarm is provided at' itsl outer. end

V with an offset portion 67 that engages the adjacent crank 62. The arms 66 exte'nd inwardly from the shaft 60 ,and are provided with foot pieces 68 having heel straps 69. By means lof these' I arms the rider may readily guide the shovel beams as desired with his feet. The foot-pieces '68 'are preferably connected by two bolts 70 to the arms 66 one of which is arranged to engage any one of a series of holes 71 in the arm so that the foot-pieces'may be adjusted in position. Bythis adjustment the foot-pieces may be brought within convenient reach of different operators even though the shovel beams or gangs are placed at different distances apart. As the beams are raised and lowered the link connection 63 slides up and down in the vertical portions of the cranks62.

The shovel beams or gangs are connected so as to swing laterally together. This connection is formed of separate Sections adjustably and yieldingly connected so that the beamsl may bel held at any desired distance apart, and so that they may be spread apart by the operator at anv time if desired. The

pro-

fm 'ing rod' 50. The hand-lever44 may beadwardly over the bars 34 of the connection is preferably arched to extend over the row of plants, as shown in Fig. 3,'

77 is connected to the end of the link 73 and.

extends throu h an ear or bracket 78 fixed to the ,central portion of the link 72. A cush'ion spring 79. is coiled about the rod 77 and extends between the lug or bracket 78 and a collar 80 fixed to the up er end of the rod. The upper end of the linii 72 (see Figs. 1 and 3) is provided with a re'arwardly bent portion or lug 81. 'A rod 82 connected to the ink 73 extendsupwardly through the lug 81, anda nut 83 threaded on the rod engages the lug as shown. The cushion spring 79 tends to draw the links. 72and 73 and the shovel beams or gangs connected thereto together. It also forces 'the lug 81 against the nut 83.

By adjusting the hand-nut 83,`the shovel' beams may be set and'yieldingly held at the desired distance apart. The operator, by forcing forwardly on both of the foot-pieces 68 of the arm' 66, may press the gangs or shovel beams'apart against the tension of the spring 79, s`o as'to avoid obstructions or` to guide the shovels in proper relation to the plant rows; When 4the operator relieves the pressure on the footieces 68, the spring 79 will return the 'shove beams' to their normal position ata fixed -distance apart. When the links 72 and 73 are separatedl against the pressure of the spring 79 by screwing down the nut 83 upon the'lrod 82 and so separate the shovel beams orv gangs, the latter -will turn in the couplings 38 which support the forward end of the gangs. These cou'plings 38 are preferably'connected to the sleeves 21 on the spindles of the'arch bar 14, each by means of two straps'84 and 85 which are bent to surround the. sleeve (see Figs. 6 and 7). The strapl 84 is provided with a portion engaging a rib 21` on the sleeve and is connected to the U-shaped coupling piece 38 by two bolts 86. The stra 85 is connected to the strap 84 by one of the bolts 86 and by a bolt' '87. The straps 84 and 85 are thus clamped upon the sleevesgl which turn on the spindles of the arch bar, so that the shovel beams or gangs may be shifted vertically to and from working position. By loosening bo1t`87 and the lower-bolt 86, the straps 84 and 85 together with the couplings 32 may be adjusted along the sleeves 21 to hold the forward ends of the gangs o`r shovel beams at different distances apart. The upper bolt 86 preferably extends through a segmental slot 88 in the strap 84 so that the anular position of the coupling-member 38 an c the shovel beams'relatively to the spindles of the arch bar may be adjusted as desired to holdthe shovels level with the ground.

It is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the details of construction and arrangements lof part-s without 'departure from the essentials of the invention.

Having described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a cultivator, the combination with the frame, of two laterally-swinging` gangs hung on the frame, a yielding connection between said gangs and shiftlevers for guiding said angsubstantially as described.

n av cultivator, the combination with the frame,'of two laterally swinging gangs vhung thereon, ayielding connection between said gangs, means-Tfor adjusting said connec-l tion to hold said beams at different distances apartand foot-levers for guiding and separating said shovel beams, substantially as described. I

3. In a cultivator, the combination with the frame, of two laterally and vertically swinging gangs hung on the frame, a yielding connection between said gangs, and means for guiding and spreading said gangs comprising. a pair of Vertical crank shafts journaled in the frame, connections between said crank shafts and said gan s and foot-levers mountedon said shaft, su stantially as de- .scribed 4. In' cultivators, the combination with the frame havingv the horizontal supporting spindles at its forward part, of sleeves on said sindles, couplings laterally adjustable on sai sleeves, two gangs connected at their forward 'ends to said couplings, a yielding connection between said gangs, and means for adj usting said yielding connection to hold said angs at different distances apart, substantially as described.

5. In cultivators, the' combination with theV frame having 'horizontal supporting spindles at its forward end, of sleeves on said spindles, couplings adjustablelaterally upon said sleeves, two -gangs pivotally connected at their forward ends to 'said couplings to swing laterally and an adjustable connection between .said gangs for holding the same at diflerent distances apart.

6. In cultivators, the combination with the frame having an arc'hed .bar at'its for- Ward end provided with horizontal spindles, of a pair of cou lin s mounted upon said spindles adjusta le aterally and free to swing thereon, a pair of gan's having Vertical standards at their forward ends vertically swiveled in said couplings, connection between said gangs, 'means for adjusting said connection to hold said gangs at different distances apart, means for raising and lowering said gangs, and means for guiding and separatin sald gangs, subst-antially as described. 7. n cultivators, the combination with the frame, of two laterally swinging shovel vbeains hung thereon, and a yieldmg connection between. said shovel beams comprising a pair of links -coupled respectively to said shovel beams, 'a spring interposed between.

said links .and an adjustable part connected to one. of said links and arranged to engage a lu r on the other link to hold said beains at di erent distances apart, substantially as described.

8. In cultivators, the combination with the frame, of a pair of laterally and vertically swinging shovel beams hung thereon land a yielding connection between said shovel beams comprising a pair of links, couplings 4Vertically ,swiveled to said beams and to which the ends of said links are horizo'ntally pivoted, a spring interposed between saidl nks and an adjustin nut connected to one of said links arrange to engage the luv on the other link, substantially as describefl.

9. In a cultivator, the combination with the frame, of a pair of laterally swinging shovel beams hung on .the frame and an arched connection between said beams comp'rising a' pair of links connected at their lower, outerends to said shovel beains and extending upwardly and inwardly ,therefronn the upper ends of said links being pivoted together, .a spring interposed between said links and means for adjusting said links to,

hold said beams at different distances apart, substantially as described.

1.0, In a cultivator, the combination with the frame, of a pair of shovel beams hung thereon and an arched connection between said beams colnprising a pair of links` couplings vertically swiveled to said links to which the lower, outor ends of said links are horizontally pivoted, said links 'extending upwardly and inwardly from said couplings with their upper, overlapped ends pivoted together, a cushion spring interposed between the end of one of said links and the other of said links, a rod connected to the central `portion of said first mentioned link andextendi' ing through a lug on theend/of/the other link, and anut/ad'jntlf threaded von said rod v/laI-engaging said lug, substantially as described.

11. In a ridmg cultrvator, the combination with the frame and the supporting wheels therefor, 'of two gangs hung on said frame to swing laterally, and a connection between said gangs arranged to hold the same a definite distance apart, said connection being arranged to yield to permit the spreading of said gangs, substantially' as descrlbed.

12. In a straddle-row, riding cultivator, the combination with the frame and the supporting Wheels therefor, of two gangs hung on the frame to swing laterally and vertically, and anl arched connection between said gangs arranged to hold the same a definite distance apart, said connection being arranged to I yield to permit the spreading of said gangs,

substantially as described.

13. In a straddle-row, riding cultivator, the combination with the frame and the supporting wheels therefor, of two gangs hung on theframe to swing laterally and vertically, and an arched connection between said gangs comprising a pair of links, means for adjustably connecting said links to hold said gangs at different distances apart, and a spring interposed between said links arranged to permit the spreading of said gangs, substantially as described.

14. -In a straddle-row, riding 'cultivaton the combination with the frame and supporting Wheels therefor, of two gangs hung on saidframe'to swing laterally and vertically, -laterally adjustable couplings for supporting the forward ends ofs'aid gangs, lan adjustable arched connection between said gangs for holding the same at different distances apart,- said connection being yielding vto permit the spreading of said gang's, and a'pair of footlevers connected to said gano's for guiding and spreading the same, su stantially as described; i

15. In a istraddle-ro'w, riding cultivator, the combination with the frame and the supporting Wheels therefor, of two gangs hung on the frame toswing lat'erally and vertically, laterally adjustable couplingsfor supporting the forward ends of the gangs, an arched con-v nection between said' gangs comprising a 'pair of links, means for adjustably,connect-` ing said links to hold the gangs at different distances apartj/sp'ng'interposed between `said/linkShto'j)ermit the spreading of said Igangs, and a pair of foot-levers connected to said gangs to guide and spread the same, substantially as described.

CLEMENT W. MICHAEL.

lVVitnesses:

ROY FRE-D ADAMS,

ROY WINFIELD MARTIN. 

